Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
Nigeria's largest airline, Air Peace, has issued a public apology to thousands of stranded passengers after aviation labour unions, backed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), barricaded its departure terminals at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Tuesday morning, effectively grounding all flight operations.
The industrial action, which began in the early hours of Tuesday, August 11, 2026, was executed by three major aviation unions: the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), the Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), and the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE). The unions acted on two primary grievances against the airline: the alleged obstruction of workers' rights to freely join trade unions and the non-remittance of statutory Ticket Sales Charges (TSC) and Cargo Sales Charges (CSC) owed to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).
The blockade had an immediate and severe impact on travellers. Union members barricaded the entrances to Air Peace's departure terminals, including Terminal 1 (Alpha and Zulu Terminals) and Terminal 2 in Lagos, as well as the airline's terminal in Abuja. Hundreds of domestic and regional passengers were left stranded at check-in counters, with flights unable to depart from either city. The chaos unfolded as early-morning travellers arrived to find abandoned counters, blocked access points, and union members displaying placards.
In a statement, Air Peace management acknowledged the disruption and expressed regret. "Air Peace sincerely apologises to all affected and stranded passengers for the disruption and inconvenience caused by circumstances beyond the airline's control," the statement read. The airline added that passengers scheduled to travel later in the day were being contacted and provided with updates as the situation evolved.
The unions, however, maintained that the action was a necessary measure of restraint after weeks of fruitless engagement. The unions had issued a formal notice of picketing on August 4, 2026, warning they were prepared to strike "at any time without further notice". Instead of an immediate strike, they extended a three-day notice to defaulting airlines as a final gesture of goodwill.
According to a joint statement by the unions, their demands are clear and unequivocal. "Making unfettered unionisation of staff in their organisation impossible after several efforts by the aviation unions," the statement read. "Their workers dare not even express the intention to belong to unions of their choices". The unions also accused Air Peace of withholding the statutory five per cent Ticket Sales Charge (TSC) collected from passengers, which is meant to fund the operations of aviation agencies. The non-remittance of these funds, the unions argued, has stalled the implementation of negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) for agency staff. "This continues to breed disgruntled air transport workers; the implication of which is an accident in the waiting!" the unions warned.
The unions are demanding "unequivocal declarations through circulars and other direct means of communication to their staff that they are free to join unions of their choices without fear of victimisation". They also demand "an immediate remittance of the seized operational funds of the aviation agencies to allow for the implementation of the conditions of service of our members in the various aviation agencies".
The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) moved swiftly to appeal for calm. In an official statement, the Director-General of Civil Aviation, Captain Chris Ona Najomo, urged the unions to "sheathe their swords and exercise restraint". Najomo disclosed that the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Mr. Festus Keyamo (SAN), had convened a reconciliation meeting the previous week to address the dispute, but the session failed to produce results because airline operators failed to attend. The NCAA assured the travelling public that flight safety remained uncompromised and that the Authority continued to exercise its statutory safety oversight responsibilities.
As of press time, Air Peace had not issued a detailed public statement addressing the specific allegations levelled by the unions or outlining rebooking or refund policies for affected passengers. The airline's earlier apology, while acknowledging the disruption, attributed the situation to "circumstances beyond the airline's control". The NCAA, however, expressed confidence that normal flight operations would resume shortly once formal talks between the Ministry, the regulatory authority, airline management, and labour leaders reconvene.
The standoff has exposed the deep-seated tensions within Nigeria's aviation sector, where the rights of workers and the financial obligations of operators have become a flashpoint for industrial action. For the hundreds of passengers left stranded at Lagos and Abuja airports on Tuesday morning, the disruption was a stark reminder that when labour disputes escalate, it is the travelling public that bears the heaviest burden. Whether the airline's apology will be enough to de-escalate the situation remains to be seen, but the unions have made it clear that they will not back down until their demands are met.
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